David Allison

A man has died in a hit-and-run incident in East Durham as two cars collided and struck a brick bus stop.

A black BMW 320 was involved in a crash with a Seat Ibiza on Salters Lane, Shotton Colliery at 11.44am today.

Council workers help police clear the scene after the fatal collision on Salter's Lane, Shotton Colliery.

The 50-year-old driver of the Seat Ibiza died at the scene.

The smash, near to the junction of Dixon Estate Bungalows, reduced a bus stop just yards away from homes to a pile of rubble.

Police remained on the scene this evening as council workers used a JCB and truck to clear away the brick work.

They also removed debris from the cars, which was scattered across the road and verges.

The bus stop seen before the collision. Image copyright Google Maps.

A 70-year-old woman who also lives in Salter’s Lane said: “I heard it, it was a very big bang.

“I didn’t know what it was and when I came to the front door I saw what had happened with the two cars.”

A 41-year-old man who lives close to the scene said: “I just heard the bang.

“I saw a car on the grass and the other one was over there, near the road, and I could see loads of people had gone out to help.

The aftermath of the crash in Shotton Colliery which has left a 50-year-old dead.

“I heard someone say they’d phoned an ambulance and then the fire brigade turned up. “I’d seen on Twitter that one of the drivers had died, it’s really sad.”

His 48-year-old neighbour, a mum-of-five, added: “I heard a massive bag when I was around at the caravans.

“When I came back here, I could see what had happened and one car was over by the bus stop and the other one was nearer the road, then I saw the ambulance and the paramedics and the fire brigade turn up.